MP worried over drug menace in Garsen

Garsen town and Kipini areas in Tana River County are the most affected by illicit drugs with youth increasingly engaging in the vise, Garsen MP Ali Wario has said.

Addressing residents at Garsen grounds during a football tournament sponsored by Garsen NG-CDF, the MP asked security agencies to tackle illicit drug menace in the area which he attributed to poor security.

He said, “security agencies should enforce strict screening at the Sub-county entry points because we have come to learn that illegal drugs find their way here either through the sea at Kipini or our main road entry points."

Speaking at the same gathering, Tana Delta Deputy County Commissioner Charles Akonalo warned parents in the area to shun against engaging their children in early marriages and denying them education.

“All the chiefs will be tasked with the responsibility of ensuring parents adhere to the government’s directive of free education and those who will fail action will be taken against them,” he said.

According to the Deputy County Commissioner, young girls in the county are either being married off or dropping out of school.

“We shall come for those who have been married off to ensure that they also benefit from the government programmes and those who marry off young girls will go to jail,” he said.

The tournament saw winners get a cash prize of Sh100,000 while the second and third runners up got Sh50,000 and Sh30,000 respectively.

72 teams that participated in the tournament also received playing kits courtesy of the Garsen NG-CDF.